Producing apparatus for oil wells



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. A. RASMUSSEN PRODUCING 'APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS Filled May 16, 1938 July as, 1941.

I'N VEN T OR CHE@ rE/z A. RAoMl/ssf/v BY HAR/EAS, K/ECH, FOSTER HARRIS AMAN Fol? A TTOENE Y6.

c. A. RAsMUssEN PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS July 8, 1941.

Filed May 16, 1938 4 Sheet-Sheet 2 .0,1 .v f, Mm.. 6 R ,w A MM a Mm 7//////, rm R M MR m V. .o um NA m r [R l .A Em um d E K .M H 6., C m J L a we J ,6W uw 6 A July s, v1941.

C. A. RASMUSSEN PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR OIL -wELLs Filed May le, 193s 4 sheets-sheet s "su". n

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'July s, 1941. Vc; A. RASMUSSEN 2,248,305

PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS a well supplies is relatively little tendency for the nuid to now difculties arising from Patented July 8, 1941 2,248,305 PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR OIL Chester A. Rasmussen,

to Rasmussen Service Company,

signor WELLS Long Beach, Calif., vas- Long Beach, Calif., a corporation or California Application May 16, 1938, Serial No. 208,106

(Cl. 166.-f2)

21 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of operating oil wells and with particular reference to an `improved form of adjustable subterranean tubing valve.

Subterranean valves controlling flow into'oil to the usual arrangement vfor controlling the well stream solely at the top of the well. In another situation a relatively deep formation tapped by oil at such low pressure that there from that formation to the surface of the well, while a formation at a 'higher level in the same well supplies gas, or oil highly charged with gas, at a pressure far in excess of the'requirements lfor free flow to the surface. In this latter situation a tubing valve may be employed to provide controllable means for utilizing pressure from the high pressure formation to promote flow from the low pressure formation at the lower level. As taught by my disclosure, in this latter situation a second tubing valve may be employed to control flow into the tubing from the lower of the two formations.

'Ihe general object of my invention is', to proized by the concept that these diniculties mentioned above, and my invention is charactermay be avoided lby adapting the tubing valve to be adjusted by means lowered into the tubing whenever adjustment is necessary. An important advantage of my new arrangement is that the tubing string may be mounted in the well as a solid column of pipe supported in a conventional manner with the ,valve incorporated at any desired level therein. Since the only difference between manipulating a weight at one depth and another is the difference in length of cable employed, my valve may be controlled with practically the same facility at any depth met in practice.

A` more speciiic object of my invention is to .provide an arrangement in which the valve means for controlling a tubing port is yieldingly held adjacent the-tubingv port and is adapted to be moved from one fluid-controlling position to another fluid-controlling position by a weight moving against the valve means and controlled vide a subterranean valve that may be adjusted at the ground level without the' necessity of pulling the well tubing.- I t has heretofore been proposed inthe art to arran'gesueh a tubing valve to be adjusted by movement of an upper section of a tubing string relative to a xed section of the tubing string extending below the valve. I have found that the inherent unavoidable disadvantages of such an arrangement include, among other things: the difficulty of arranging the well tubing for the required relative movement; the diilieulty of ascertaining the effect oi a given extent of tubing movement at the'top of the well on the subterranean valve because of stretch in the tubing string; the diiculty of maintaining any given valve adjustment because of temperature changes in the tubing above the valve; the friction opposing free movement of the adjustable portion of the tubing; and the diiiiculty of maintaining an eiiective seal around the movable portion of the tubing. These difficulties increase at an increasing rate with the depth of the well and in practice soon becorne insurmountable.

It is my .object to avoid all the difficulties from the surface of the well. In the preferred form of my invention, it is my object to provide means in the tubing string to limit the action of the valve-operating weight, and it is my further object to make the weight adjustable with respect to its engagement with such limiting means whereby the valve-operating weight may be preset at the surface of the well to open the valve to any predetermined exten In one form of my invention I have the object of providing yielding means such as a lspring Vadapted to move the valve means upward after the valve means has been depressed by manipulation lof a weight to a predetermined extent In another form of my invention I provide a special tool to grapple a valve member to cause valve operation opposite from that-produced by the weight. By employing a valve-operating means .that is completely withdrawn from the Y well when not in use, I avoid the necessity of obstructing flow in the tubing to any degree whatsoever in the periods between valve-adjusting operations.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a subterranean tubing valve that may 'I'he above and other objects and advantagesof my invention will be apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken with the accompanying drawings. y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an oil well incorporating one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial section through my yalve assembly in the oil well tubing showing the valve in closedU position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve moved to an intermedi-ate open position by the valveoperating weight;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the full open position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on a somewhat enlarged scale showing the inner` sleeve depressed suiiiclently to bring the automatic latch-releas ing means into operation; l

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the broken line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a slightly enlarged axial sectionlof a second form of my invention incorporating a plurality of valve-controlled ports in the tubing string adapted to be opened successively by the inner sleeve; 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged axial section of one `of the valve-controlled ports of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line 3-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken as indicated by rthe line I U-IU of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through a well casing showing one form of my invention for controlling flow into the lower end of a string of tubing;

Fig. 12 is an axial section through the tubing and valve of Fig. 11, showing a valve-operating" Valve at tool engaged therewith;

Fig. 13 is aside elevation partly broken away of the valve-operating tool shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 13a is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line I3aI--I3a of Fig. 13;

Fig. 14 is a virs igmentary'longitudinal section similar to Fig. 12 indicating an alternate and reversed construction;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic representation of an oil well in which the tubing string incorporates two of myv valves at widely separated levels;

Fig. 16 is an axial section through the tubing string of Fig. 15 showing a lvalve-controlling tool engaging the lower of the two valves;

Fig. 16a is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line I6a-I6a of Fig. 16;

Fig. 16h is a transverse section taken as indi- Fig. 17 is an axial section through a fragment of a tubing string showing an arrangement by virtue of which the valve member may be completely withdrawn for replacement;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 12 showing a grappling tool being moved into engagement with a valve member; and

Fig. 19 is an axial section through a portion of a tubing string showing a device for lowering a valve member into place in the tubing.

Fig. 1 represents a typical situation in which a perforated oil well casing 26 extends downward through three spaced oil sand formations 2| and 22 produce gas or oil at pressures exceeding the requirements of free flow.

A string of tubing, generally designated 26, for bringing oil to the surface of the well'is inserted in the casing 20, the tubing terminating in a perforated portion 21 submerged in the oil 28 in the casing from the low pressure formation 23. In the practice of my invention, I contemplate providing a packer 29 of conventional type that forms a seal between'the tubing and the casing at the impervious formation 25, thereby dividing the annular space between the rtubing and casing into a low pressure zone 32 below the packer in communication with the low pressure formation 23 and a high pressure zone 33 above the packer in communication with the high pressure formations; and I further contemplate incorporating in the string of tubing 26 within the high pressure zone 33 my tubular I sleeve 39 at selected open positions of the valve tively extensive iiexible Apawl 45- disposed in a 2|, 22, and 23 separated by impervious formations 24 and 25, and in which the lowermost producing formation 23 is at relatively lowpressure inadequate to force oil from the well, while either or both `the upper producing formations valve assembly generally designated 34.

The valve assembly, as Viewed in side elevation in Fig. 1, comprises an upper coupling 35, an outer valve sleeve 36, and a lower coupling V3l, these three members being rigidly threaded together and rigidly incorporated in the tubing string as an integral portion thereof. The outer valve sleeve has one or more longitudinally disposed valve ports 38, preferably in the form of longitudinal slots, and slidably mounted within the outer sleeve'is a valve means, such as an inner valve-sleeve 39, movable downward to uncover the valve port 33 thereby to provide communication between the annular high pressure zone 33 and `the interior of the string of tubing. 'I'he mo able or inner valve-sleeve 39 is yieldingly s pported and urged .toward its upper valve-closing position by suitable means such as a helical spring 40 that is seated in the lower coupling 3l. 'Ihe lower end o f the spring may rest, for example, on a bushing 42 mounted in the coupling and may embrace a tubular 43 resting on the bushing 42.

The latch means for retaining the inner valvein opposition to pressure from the spring 40 may be a detent mechanism comprising a member on the outer valve-sleeve adapted for engagement with a cooperating member on the inner valvesleeve. The latch or detent means carried by the inner valve-sleeve 39 may comprise a relalongltudinal slot 46 inthe wall of the inner valve-sleeve, the pawl being securedvby a pair of screws 41 that `extend through the wall of the -inner valve-sleeve into a tubular reinforcement 48 at the bottom/ end of the valve-sleeve.

This pawl is designed normally to press outward against cooperative ratchet means xed to the outer valve-sleeve 36. To provide such ratchetmeans, I prefer'to counterbore the outer valve-sleeve 36 to provide a seat for a ratchet cylinder 43 slidingly embracing the inner valvesleeve 39, the ratchet cylinder being supported by the inner end of the lower coupling 31 of the valve assembly. Preferably, I provide three pawls 45 spaced circumferentially to cooperate with three corresponding series of ratchet teeth 52 inthe ratchet cylinder 49 (Fig. 6). To prevent relative rotation between the cooperating members, suitable meansmay be provided, such as a setscrew 53, in the inner valve-sleeve 39 extending radially outward into sliding engagement with a complementary longitudinally disposed slot 54 in the ratchet cylinder 49'.

At the closed positionof the valve, the pawls guide 45 press outward against a, smooth upper por-'- tion 55 of the ratchet cylinder, as indicated by Fig. 2. If .the inner valve-sleeve 39 is depressed to any intermediate position, permitting. ow through the valve ports 38, the pawls 45 yautomatically engage teeth in the ratchet cylinder, asindicated in Fig. 3, to hold the valve open.

To open the valve, it is merely necessary to provide means for moving the inner valve-sleeve vdownward against the action of the spring 49. A For example, as indicated in the drawings, such valve-operating means may comprise an elongated weight 51 that is loweredinto the tubing string by means of a suitable cable 58, the weight having a head 59 at its lower end for abutment against the upper end ofthe inner valve-sleeve 39. The weight 51 may be of such mass that it is necessary merely to lower the weight against the upper end of themovable valve-sleeve, as indicated in Fig. 2, to' cause the valve-sleeve to gravitate downward as required, or a lighter weight may be used to depress the valve-sleeve by impact 'rather than sheer weight.

Preferably, the weight is adjustable vat the surface of the well to onen the tubing valve to apredetermined extent. To provide for such action, the upper coupling 35 of the valve assembly may be formed with an inwardly disposed stop means such as a tapered annular 'shoulder y6l), and the periphery of the. weight 51 may be threaded to receive acomplementary Iadjustable stop-collar 62, the adjustment of the collar on the weight determining the extent to which the movable valve-sleeve is depressed by the weight. It will be noted that the weight is formed with an axial passage 63 and radial apertures 64 providing a fluid course to facilitate movement through the oil column in the tubing string.

A further refinement is the provision of means to close thevalve from an open position without the necessity of removing the valve assembly from the well, this function being provided in the instant form of my invention by automatic re'- lease means to render the valve latch ineffective I when the movable valve-sleeve is depressed to an extreme position, the release means holding the latch means ineffective until the movable valvesleeve 39 is raised by the spring. 40 to the closed position of the valve.

In-the arrangement suggested by the draw-vi ings, longitudinal slots 65 in the ratchet cylinder 49 divides 'each of the ratchet teeth 52 into tw'o laterally spaced portions designated 52a in Fig. 6. Each of the longitudinal slots 65 is widened at the periphery of the ratchet cylinder to provide a channel designated 66vto retainand guide a complementary release slide 61. Each release slid'e 61, as best shown Fig. 5, has an integral longitudinal rib 68 extending into the inner narrower portion of the longitudinal slot 65. 'I'he rib has a relatively shallow portion 69 toward its upper end, an inclined cam'portion 18, and an elevated portion 12 toward its lower end having a shallow recess 13. The release slides 61 are relatively short in comparison with the slots 65,

and are freely slidable in the slots so that normally the release membersrest at the lower ends of the slots as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

If the tubing valve is to be closed, the stopcollar 62 is adjusted at an elevated position somewhat higher than shown in Fig, 4, so that when the weight 51 is lowered against the movable valve-sleeve 39, the valve sleeve is depressed t9 the extent indicated in Fig. 5. This movement forces the pawls 45 up the cam portions 10 of the I described, the spring 40 moves the inner valvesleeve upward bringing the pawls 45 into engagement'with the shoulders 14 at the upper ends of the shallow recesses 13, with the result that the slides are carried upward with the moving valvesleeve.` When the release slides are stopped by the upper endsof the slots 65, Athe pawls continuing upward with the inner valve-sleeve escape from engagement with the shoulders 14 and then moveoutward against the smooth portion 55 of the ratchet cylinder above the ratchet. teeth at-the closed position of the valve shown in Fig.

2. The release slides then gravitate to their norn mal positions at the lower ends of the slots 65.

Another form of my invention' shown in Figs.- 7 to 10 is similar in construction to the first form of my invention, corresponding prime numbers indicating corresponding parts. Instead of employing longitudinal valve ports in the outer valve-sleeve 36', I provide a plurality of spaced valves arranged to be opened by depression of the inner valve-sleeve 39', the first two of the plurality of valves being shown in Fig. 7.

Each of the valves includesa valve member 18 that has a ribbed -stem 19 and is adapted to seat in a suitable hardened bushing 80, the valve member being normally held in its closed position |by a valve spring 8| acting between the bushing and an annular s top 82 on the vvalve stem. The valve stem 19 of each of the valves extends into a cooperative cam slot 83 cut` longitudinally of the periphery of the `inner valve-sleeve 39. To prevent relative lrotation'l of the inner `valvesleeve, suitable means may be provided, such as a .setscrew 84, in the inner valve-sleeve in sliding engagement with a longitudinal guide slot 85 in the outerjguide-sleeve. Each of the cam slots 83 is extended to the upper end of the inner valve-sleeve to provide a channel for passage of fluid from the high pressure zone 33 of the well into the interior of the tubing string. Preferably, the inclined surfaces 66 in the cam slots 83 are so disposed that the various valves will Vbe opened in succession as the inner valve-sleeve is progressively depressed. Thus, it will be noted that in the arrangement shown in Fig. '1, the

uppermost peripheral valve will be fully opened.

before progressive opening of the second valve have -valve means at the lower end' of a string of tubing to control flow of fluid into the tubing instead of limiting flow control to means at the top of the tubing string. `Such an arrangement ltled down by a subterranean valve so that the pressure of the column of uid in the tubing string does not greatly exceed the pressure re. quired for. unassisted ow. It is apparentalso that such an arrangement gives two control points for the well flow, one control point beingV at the bottom of the tubing and the other control point being at the surface.

Fig. 1l shows a string of tubingg90 in a perforated well casing 9|,lthe tubing being sealed near its lower end one or more peripheral ports 93 controlled by one of my valve arrangements,

for. example, the valve arrangement shown in Fig. 12, one of the preferred forms of my invention.

In Fig. ,12 the outer valve-sleeve 94 is connected to the tubing 90 by a coupling 95, thei may be formed simply by flattening and welding f one end of a short nipple, is threaded into a collar 99 that is in turn threaded into the lower end of the outer valve-sleeve 94.

The sliding inner valve-sleeve 91 is provided with a plurality of peripheral ports |00, which may be graduated in size, as indicated by the drawings. For the purpose of releasably retaining the inner valve-sleeve at various positions to control fiowthrough the ports 93, the inner valve-sleeve may be formed with a plurality of annular grooves |102 in its periphery for yielding engagement by a circular series of pawls or latch members |03. In the construction shown, these flexible latch members are integral with a ilanged ring |04 that is retained between the upper end of the coll-ar 99 and an internal annular shoulder |05 integral with the outer valve-sleeve 94. To provide room for radial exure of these latch members, the outer valve-sleeve is cut away to provide an annular space |06.

It is contemplated thatthe inner ,valve-sleeve and the pawls will vbe so constructed and arranged that the inner valve-sleeve will be adequately supported to maintain anyv adjustment y but may be shifted longitudinally by a suitable sleeve upward, I may arrange for theI valve-sleeve 1 to be engaged and moved upward by a suitable grappling tool. For example, I may cut an internal annular channel |09 in the sliding valvesleeve to be engaged by a grapplingftool generally designated ||0 in Figs. 12, 13, and 18.

at the bottom by a.suitable plug 92 and having the anvil head ||4 in a manner well understood in the art.

Towards its upper end the tool body is embraced by a collar ||9 secured thereto as by a pin ||9. Spaced below this iixed collar is a second sliding collar I 20, the tool body being enlarged to provide a shoulder |2| against which this collar is normally urged by a helical spring |22 that embraces the tool body in compression between the two collars ||8 and |20. Slidingly embracing the tool body below the sliding'collar |20 is a grappling sleeve |25 having integral therewith a circular series of longitudinally extending flexible ilngers |26, the lower ends oi' the iingers providing a circular series of enlargements |21. The grappling sleeve is; formed with a shoulder |28 dimensioned to engage the upper end of the inner'valve-sleeve 91, and the iingers |26 are dimensioned to place the enlargements |21 in registry with the engagement channel |09 as may be understood by reference to Fig. 12.

The grappling sleeve |25 is supported by a collar |30 that is xed withrespect to the tool bcdy I by a suitable pin |3|. In one practice of my invention, this pin is of frangible material and is severed to free the collar |30 in thecourse of adjusting the tubing valve, the collar being thereby permitted to drop against an annular shoulder |32 provided by an enlargement |33 in the tool body. To permit, insertion of the pin |3I, diametrically disposed apertures |34 are provided in the grappling sleeve |25, and to permit subsequent removal of the severed parts of the pin,

the upper end of the grappling sleeve maybe cut positive manner, as shown in Fig. 1'2.

As best shown in Fig. 13, the body nl of the grappling tool ls of 'tubular construction, being open atV its lower end and having a seriesA of radial apertures ||2 so that fluid may passl through the tool when it is being lowered through the iiuid columnin the tubingstring. The upper end -of the body may be screwthreadedl'y connected to a jar that includes a theAtool is lowered into position, the hammer may be manipulated for repeated impact against 75` If, in the course of operating a well, it is desirable to shift the inner valve-sleeve upward, the grappling tool ||0 is lowered into ,the well, the tool being guided past all-obstructions inthe tubing string by a conical nose |31.- grappling tool encounters the inner valve-sleeve 91, it is forced into the sleeve either by sheer weight of the tool or by impacts of the hammer arrangement described. Since the circular series -of ringer enlargements |21'is expanded by the that the spring |22 will continuously tend to revstore the nger enlargements to their normal positions on the periphery of the expanding rib |36 so that as soon as the nger enlargements reach the engagement channel |09 of the valve-sleeve, the spring |22 causes relative movement between the grappling4 sleeve |25 andthe tool body When thev ries the sliding valve-sleeve 91 |60 forming an integral part of the tubing string, l

restoring the nger enlargements to their normal positions thereby bringing positive engagement with the valve-sleeve, as indicated in Fig. 12.

Once the grappling the cable may be spooled in to withdraw the tool. 'I'he upward movement of the grappling tool carto its uppermost position which may be the closed position of the valve, at which point the sliding valve-sleevel of Fig. 12 abuts the shoulder S6 whereupon iarring the tool severs the pin |3|. Severance of the pin permits the grappling sleeve to drop, thereby shifting the ringer enlargements |21 downward to a position of restricted outside diameter indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13. This downward movement of the linger enlargementsl permits the grappling tool to retract in effective diameter to escape from the valve-sleeve.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the annular shoulder 96 formed in the tubing string serves the dual purpose of a tool-stop to cooperate with the valve-operating tool 51 and of a stop for the valve-sleeve to cause disengagement of the grappling tool In one practice of my invention, where it is desirable to arrange for replacement of the sliding valve sleeve without the necessity of pulling the tubing, this latter function of the shoulder 96 is omitted, the shoul- I der being of sufliciently large internal diameter,

as indicated at 96al in Fig. 17,. to pass the sliding valve-sleeve 01a. The shoulder 96a, however, is smaller in internal diameter than the tubing 90 so that the valve-operating tool 51a shown in dotted lines may be employed to depress the sliding valve-sleeve to a predetermined extent, as previously described.

The purpose of Fig. 14 is to show that the valve construction of Fig. 12 may be modified, for example, by mounting latch members |03a on the sliding valve sleeve 91h instead of mounting the latch members on the outer sleeve 94h. In the construction shown, the lower end of the sliding valve-sleeve 91h is cut to form the latch members integral therewith. vLilie latch members are adapted to engage internal annular grooves |02a in the outer sleeve member 941) tc provide for the mode of operation previously described.

A feature of my invention, as previously noted, is that it permits the employment of two separately adjustable tubing valves disposed in a tubing string at widely separated levels. Fig. 15, for example, indicates an arrangement similar to that of Fig. l with the addition of a valve to control iiow into the lower end of the tubing. This latter arrangement is noteworthy in that it aflords complete control of fluid flow into the tubing instead of control of only one of the two fluid streams involved. Fig. shows a string of tubing |50 in a perforated well casing |5I, a packer |52 sealing oi the annular space between the tubing and casing between two producing formations. An upper tubing valve generally designated |53 at the upper producing formation controls iiow into the tubing through one or more tubing ports |54, and at the lower-end of the tubing closed by a plug |55 a lower tubing valve |56 controls flow into the tubing through one or more ports |51. The manner in which the lower valve |56 may be incorporated'in the tubing string to be adjusted independently of the upper tool is properly seated;4

the grappling tool into an inner valve-sleeve |6| slidngly mounted therein, and latch members |62 cooperating with peripheral grooves |63 in the inner valve-sleeve. The outer valve-sleeve |60 is connected to the tubing |50 below the valve by `a suitable connecting collar |64.

The lower tubing valve |56 is similar in construction to the upper valve |53, the construction being substantially that previously described with reference to Fig. 12. Thus, the lower valve |56 includes an outer valve-sleeve |66 that may -be identical in construction and dimension to the outer valve-sleeve |60 of the upper valve. -The outer valve-sleeve |66 is connected to the tubing |50 by a collar |61 having the same internal clearance as the outer valve-sleeve and is closed at the bottom by the plug |55 that isY connected thereto by a collar |60. The sliding valve-sleeve |10 of the lower tubing valve may have the same outside diameter as the sliding valve-sleeve |6|. As Vshown in the drawings, the sliding valvesleeve |10 has a series of longitudinally spaced ports |1|y intended to be moved successively into registration with an annular channel |12 formed in the inner wall of the valve-sleeve |66 in communication with the tubing ports |51. The sliding valve-sleeve |10 has an inner engagement channel |13 to cooperate with a grappling tool,

as previously described, and hasv near its lower end a series of external annular grooves |14 adapted to be releasably engaged by a circular series of latch members |15 in the manner previously described.

The sliding valve-sleeve |6| of the uper tubing valve 3 is shifted downward as required by a weight or .valve-operating tool 51, as previously described. The sliding valve-sleeve |6| may be free to be withdrawn completely from the tubing by'virtue of an arrangement shown in Fig. 17.

l When it is necessary to shift the sliding valvesleeve |6| upward, the grappling tool ||0 is forced into engagement with the valve-sleeve in Athe manner previously described. It will be understood, of course, that the engagement of the latch members |62 with the sliding valve-sleeve is suicient to cause the finger enlargements |36 of the grappling tool to be retracted without danger of the grappling tool forcing the valve- `sleeve downward. Once the sliding Valve-sleeve is positively engaged by the grappling tool, it is drawn to the surface of the well and is subsequently lowered by means that will be later described intoa position to start a new valveoperatingcycle. 'l

When the upper sliding valve-sleeve |63 is removed from thewell, the grappling tool may be lowered to.engage the lower sliding valve-sleeve |10 so that the lower valve-sleeve may be drawn to the surface of the well for the same purpose.

While the upper sliding valve-sleeve |6| may readily be depressed to a predetermined `and adjustable extent, it is apparent that in the absence of an annular shoulder or tool-stop 96a for the lower sliding valve-sleeve |10, some special type of valve-operating tool is desirable for predetermined adjustment of, the lower valve: Such-a valve-operating tool is generally designated in Fig. 16. The valve-operating tool |10 has a valve |53 may be understoodl by reference to Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 shows the lower parts of the vupper tubing valve |53, including an outer valve-sleeve body |19 may be connected with a cable or heavy piano wire I 8| through a jar generally designated |82.

.The tool-stoptocooperate with this particular' ing Valve-sleeve |10 is of smaller inside diameterv than the upper sliding valve-sleeve |6| so thatl a stop-collar |80 may be dimensioned as shown in Fig. 16 to pass through the upper sliding valve- Isleeve, in which case the lower valve-sleeve may be depressed in a 'controlled manner from the surface of the well without the necessity of re moving the upper sliding valve-sleeve |6| in advance. v The stop-collar |80, however, may if desired be of substantially l-arger diameter -to serve as a guide for centering the tool body |19 as the tool approaches the lower sliding valve- -sleeve. In the latter caseoi' course, the upper sliding valve-sleeve |6| must be pulled from the tubing in advance of such adjustment ofthe lower valve.

the vane-operating w01 |18 if thattooi is pro-` vided with a diametrical bore |91 to receive a wire, |98, or other frangible element, passing into valve ports I1Ia, as indicated in Fig. 16. It is apparent that the collar |80 may be set to move the sliding valve-sleeve |10 to any preselected disposition. A number of bores |91 may be provided in the tool body so that the desired Any number of expedients may be resorted to for lowering the upper sliding valve-sleeve |6| into position in the well. For example, the valvesleeve may be lowered into the well in engagement with the grappling tool ||0, the pin |3| being lstrong enough to carry the weight of the valve-sleeve but being frangible enough to be sheered when the tool is pulled upward with the valve-sleeve engaged by the latch means |62.

, For example, soft wire may serve the'purpose of releasable connection with the valve-sleeve may be had for any adjustment of the stop-'collar |80.

Since any of the valve-operating tools described may be carried by a. piano wire, I may pass the piano wire through a packing gland at the top of the well and proceed with lowering and manipulating the tool without leaving theI well open.

'I'he tool may be entirelyiwithdrawn from the tubing during the intervals between valve-adjust ing operations, but, by virtue of the tubular character of my tool, it may be left suspended in the tubingv withoutmaterial interference with fluid iiow if desired.

While I prefer to lower the tools on wiresor cables and to depend upon jars for operation of the tools, as heretofore described, in one practice of my invention I may simply drop a tool with no cable into the tubing to operate a valvev sleeve by impact, and then later iish out the ordinary care, the valve-sleevelmay be brought to'rest against the latch members |62 and then jarred into engagement with the latch members, the latch members seating in the lowermost of the grooves |63.

In an alternative procedure, the upper sliding valve-sleeve |6| may be lowered into its place by a tool constructed as indicated in Fig. 19.

This tool generally designated by numeral |90.

has a body |9| dimensioned to be inserted in the valve-sleeve` IBI, the body having an annular shoulder |92 to seat against the upper end of the valve-sleeve. A piece of soft wire |93, or. other frangible element, passes through a diametrical bore in the body |9| and through diametrically opposite valve ports |95 in the sliding valvesleeve |6|, the disposition of the bore |94 being such that the wire holds the valve-sleeve against the annular shoulder |92. Above the shoulder |92 the body |9| of the tool is provided with threads to adjustably receive a stop-collar |96, the stop-collar being dimensioned to engage the shoulder 96a in the same manner as the stopcollar 62a shown in broken lines in Fig. 17. This tool is lowered on acable and preferably is protool. l

A1; the lower end o f the tubing, sand may eventually enlarge the ports |51 in the outer valve-sleeve and the various ports |1| in the inner valve-sleeve. Enlargement of the ports |51 is no serious disadvantage, however, so long as the inner valve-sleeve |10 may be replaced, as required.

I have shown and described preferred embodiments of .my invention in specific detail for the purpose ofdisclosure, and to illustrate the principles involved. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may b made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I reserve the right to all such changes and modifications that properly come within the scope of my appended claims. y

I claim as my invention;

l. The combination with a well tubing having a subterranean intake port of a valve mechanism -Vcontrolling flow through said port, said mechanism including: a member movable in the tubing;` yielding means'in the tubing to urge said movable member in one direction; latch means to hold said movable member in opposition to said yielding means; and valve-operating means adapted to be lowered into the well and to move said movable member from one latched position to another in opposition to said yielding means.

2. 'I'he combination with a well tubing of: a cylindrical member comprising a portion of the tubing, said member having an intake port, and an annular channel in its inner wall communieating with said port; a cylindrical valve-sleeve movably telescopedp in said cylindrical member, said valve-sleeve having a series of longitudinal spaced ports and being adapted to be moved to bring saidports successively into registration with said channel; means to hold yieldingly said valve-sleeve at selected positions in said cylindrical member; and means adapted tol be lowered into the well to force said valve-sleeve from one position to another.

3. The combination with a well tubing having f a subterranean intake port of a -valve mechanism controlling flow through said port, said mecha.- nism including: .a member movable up and down in the tubing, said member being adapted to be moved downward by an object lowered into the tubing thereby to move said mechanism in one direction; yielding means in the tubing urging said movable member upward, thereby tending to move the valve mechanism inthe opposite direction; latch means to prevent movement of said member by said yielding means; and means adapted when said movable memberis lowered to a predetermined position to render said latch means inoperative until said yielding means returns the movable member to an upper position..

4. The combination-with awell tubing having a subterranean intake port of: a valve mechanism controlling flow through said port; a meme ber included in said mechanism and adapted to be moved up and down in the tubing'to actuate said mechanism; a stop in the tubing, to limit the upward movement of said movable member;

a grappling tool adapted to b'e lowered into the tubing and to engage and lift said-movable member; and frangible means incorporated in said grapping tool to hold the tool in grappling dis position, said frangible means being adapted to break and permitthe grappling tool Ato take anv ineffective disposition when said moyable member is drawn upward against said stop..

5. The combination with a well tubing having a subterranean intake port of: valve means adapted to be lowered into the tubing to control flow through said port; means in thetubing to yieldingly retain said valve means in the vicinity of said port; means to lower said valve means into the tubing into engagement lwith said yielding. means, said lowering means being adapted to abut said valve means in a positive manner to prevent upward movement of the valve means relative'to the lowering means; and frangible means interconnecting said lowering means and valve means with 4the lowering means abutting the valve means, said frangible mems being adapted to break and thereby release the valve means when the lowering means is lifted after the valve means is engaged by said yielding means.

6. In an oil well having va casing receivingr fluid from a plurality of vertically spaced producing formations,l the combination with said casing of: a string of tubing in the casing extending through one of said formations to a lower lof said formations; means forming' a seal between said casing and tubing string intermediate said two -formations; valve means in said tubing above said seal to admit fluid into the tubing from the upper of said two formations; and valve means in said tubing below said seal to admit fluid into the `tubing from the lower of said two formations, each of said valve means being adaptedto be operated by'an object lowered into the tubing.

1. 'I'he combination with a well tubing for veying uid to the top of. a Well of: a subhtl'anean valve movable through a series of open i subterranean valve movable through a series of tain any one of said open positions to which it may be moved; and a valve-operating tool separatefrom and independent of the valve for insertion into said well tubing atvthe top of the well after saidv tubing and valve-are installed in the well, saidtool being `adapted for lowering through the tubing against said valve to move said valve from onev of its open positions to another.

8. The combination with a well tubing of: a subterranean valve movable through a series of open positions for permitting flow into the tubing at various rates, said valve being adapted to maintain any one of said open positions to which it may be moved; a valve-operating tool for lowering into the tubing against said valve to move said valve from one of its open positions to another; and a stop in the tubing to limit movement of said tool against said valve. y

9. The combination with a well tubing of: a subterranean valve movable through a series of open positions for permitting flow into the tubing at various rates, said valve being adapted to maintain anyone of said open positions `to which it may be moved; a stop in said tubing; and a tool adapted to be lowered intov said tubing to move said valve from one of its positions to another, said tool being adjustable with respect to the spacing of its points of contact with said stop and valve, whereby the tool may be set at f the surface of the Well to cause a predetermined valve movement in the well.

10. The combination with a well tubing of: a

open positions for permitting flow into the tub- .ing at variousrates; means in the tubing normally serving to yieldingly restrain movement of said valve, said means being effective for this purpose at any one of a number of open posi.

tions for the valve; and a valve-operating tool forlowering into the tubing against said valve to move said valve from one of its open positions to another in oppositionv to said restraining means. j 1' 11. 'I'he combination with a well tubing of: a subterranean valve movable through a series of open positions for permitting ow into the tubing at various rates; means in the tubing normally serving to yieldingly restrain movement of said valve, said means being effective for this purpose at any one of a number-of open positions for the valve; a stop in said tubing; and a tool adapted to be lowered into said tubing to move said valve from one of its positions to another in opposition to said restraining means, said tool being adjustable with respect to the spacing of its points of contact with said stop and valve, whereby the tool maybe set at the surface of the well to cause a predetermined valve movement in the well.

12. 'I'he combination with a well tubing having at least one subterranean port of: a subterranean valve means controlling fluid flow through said port; a yieldinglatch adapted to. engage said valve means at selected open positions ofthe valve that permit different vrates of uid flow; anda means adapted to be lowered into said tubing to shift said valve means from one of said latched positions to another.

13. The combination with a weil tubing having at least one subterranean peripheral intake port 5 of: a valve member slidingly mounted in the upward by a grappling tool.

tubing for movement to control fluid ingress through said port; means in the tubing to yieldingly hold said valve member set at various open positions permitting various rates of ow through said port; and means adapted to be lowered into the tubing to move said valve memberY from one of its set positions to another` set position.

14. The combination with a well tubing of:

a subterranean valve movable up and down through a series of open positions for permitting Ivarious rates of fluid ilow into the tubing, said valve being adapted to maintain any one of said open positions to which it may be set, said valve being adapted to be moved downward by a weight lowered into the tubing and to be moved 15. In a well, the combination of: a tubing; valve means to control iiow of well fluids into said tubing; a movable member lincluded in said valve means and adapted to be moved up and down to adjust the valve for various rates of iiow into the tubing, said member being adapted to be moved downward by a means lowered into the tubing and to bemovedv upward by a grap- '.pling tool; and means to hold the valve set at whatever position to which it may be adjusted.

16. The combination with a well tubing of a valve member adjustably controlling uid flow in the tubing; a depressing tool adapted to be lowered into'the tubing to depress the valve member for adjustment in one direction; and a grapplingtool adapted to be lowered into the "tubing to engage and lift the valve member for adjustment in the opposite direction.

1'7. A combination as set forth in claim 16 in valve member from one set position to another for adjustment of flow in the tubing; a stop in the tubing; and releasable means to lower the valve member into the well-to a predetermined set position, said means being adapted to engage said stop when the valve member reaches said predetermined position.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which frangible means is incorporated in the connection between said lowering means and the valve member, said frangible means having insaid valve supporting means to upward move- .ment of the'valvle member.

20. The combination with a well tubing for conveying uid tothe top of a well of: a valve member dimensioned and adapted for insertion into the tubing at the top of the well for movement through the tubing from the well surface to a.V plurality Qf operative tsubterranean posi'- tions selectively, which positions differ in rates of fluid ilow permitted by said valve member; a tool adapted to releasably engage said valve member externally of the well and to lower said valve member throughsaid tubing to the region of said subterranean positions; and a stop in the well to limit the lowering movement of said tool and thereby to limit the lowering movement of said valve member to a predetermined one of said subterranean positions. g

21. The combination with a well tubing for conveying iluid to the top of a well of a subterranean valve movable through a series of open positions for permitting now into the tubing at various rates, said valve being adapted to maintain any one of said open positions to which it may be moved; a valve-operating weight dimensionedior insertion into said tubing at the top of the Well and adapted for lowering into the tubing against said valve; a flexible member attached to -said weight for.lowering the weight into the tubing from the top of the well and for manipulation from the top of the well to cause said weight to move said valve from one of its open positions to another by repeated impact against the valve; and a stop in the tubing to limit the movement of said tool against said valve at a predetermined poin't to place said valve at a lpredetermined one of said open positions.

CHESTER -A.. RASMUSSEN. 

